Insulated structure



3,016,999 INSULAI'ED STRUCTURE Karl M. Glasoe, J12, San Marine, Calill, assignor to Thorpe Insuiation Company, has Angeies, Calif a con poration of @alifornia Filed st. 28, 1959, Ser. No. 849,298 2 Claims. (Cl, 1539-85) The present invention relates in general to insulating a structure, such as a duct, a tank, or the like, against heat transfer by covering such structure with an overlying insulating layer which, in turn, is covered by an overlying sheathing means, comprising a plurality of sheathing panels, for protecting the insulating layer.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a construction wherein the entire sheathing means is so mount ed on the underlying, insulated structure that it may float relative thereto, and wherein the individual sheathing panels are so mounted that they may iloat relative to each other. Such a floating mounting for the entire sheathing means andfor the individual sheathing panels enables them to perform their function without damage thereto when the underlying structure expands or contracts. Such expansion or contraction of the underlying structure may be due to changes in the temperature of a material therein, or flowing therethrough. As another example, if the underlying structure constitutes a container, expansion and contraction thereof may occur as it is filled and drained. In a large oil storage tank, for example, expansion and contraction due to temperature. changes, or due to draining or filling, may be extremely large, and the present invention accommodates such ex pansion and contraction without damage to the sheathing means as a whole, or to the sheathing panels individually.

Considering the invention more specifically, an important object thereof is to connect the sheathing means to the underlying structure by means of a plurality of spaced, elongated, flexible tying devices, or tie means, extending outwardly through the insulating layer. With this construction, the entire sheathing means may float relative to the underlying, insulated structure.

Another object is to provide a construction of the time going nature wherein the tying devices are tie wires connected at their inner ends to the underlying structure and at their outer ends to the sheathing means, such tie wires providing the desired floating mounting for the sheathing means as a whole.

Another object is to provide the underlying, insulated structure with an overlying anchoring layer to which the insulating layer is applied and to which the inner ends of the tie wires are connected, such anchoring layer being suitably connected to the underlying structure.

Another object of the invention is to space the anchoring layer outwardly from the underlying insulated structure so as to provide one or more dead air spaces between the underlying structure and the insulating layer, thereby further minimizing heat transfer between the interior and the exterior of the underlying structure.

Another object is to provide a construction wherein the anchoring layer is merely wire mesh suitably secured to the insulated structure in outwardly spaced relation thereto.

Another object is to provide a construction wherein the sheathing means includes sheathing-panel supports overlying the insulating layer and connected to the outer ends of the tie wires, the latter being arranged in rows corresponding to the supports.

A further object is to secure the sheathing panels to certain of the supports alosig centerlines of the sheathing panels only, the ends of the sheathing panels being spaced apart and being lightly secured in such a manner that relative movement thereof is possible. With this construction, the sheathing panels may float relative to each other to compensate for expansion and contraction of the underlying structure, which is an important feature.

The foregoing objects, advantages, features and results of the present invention, together with various other objects, advantages, features and results thereof which will be evident to those skilled in the art in the light of this specification, may be attained with the exemplary embodiment of the invention described in detail hereinafter and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary isometric view of a structure insulated in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view taken along the arrowed line 22 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view duplicating a portion of FIG. 2 on an enlarged scale.

In the drawing, the invention is shown as applied to an underlying, insulated structure comprising a rectangular duct it), which may be a hot or cold air or gas duct, for example, having side walls '12 and 14 and top and bottom walls 16 and 13. For convenience, only the manner in which the side Wall 12 is insulated in accordance with the invention will be considered in detail herein. The side wall 14 and bottom wall 18 are insulated in substantially the same manner as the side wall 12, and there are only minor difierences between the manners in which the side wall 12 and the top wall 16 are insulated, which difierences will be pointed out hereinafter.

Referring particularly to FIG. 2 of the drawing, the underlying, insulated structure illustrated therein is con stituted by'the side Wall 12 of the duct 16 and has spacers 20 secured thereto, as by welding. The spacers 20 may be parts of rectangular frames, not shown, surrounding the duct it? to reinforce same, such frames being spaced apart longitudinally of the duct.

An anchoring layer 22 overlies the spacers 20 and is suitably secured thereto. The particular anchoring layer 22 shown is formed of Wire mesh and may be welded to the spacers 20, although it may be otherwise secured thereto also.

One difierence' between the manners of insulating the side wall 12 and the top wall 16 is that the latter is preferably provided with an anchoring layer, not shown, in the form of decking capable of preventing damage to the duct 10 in the event that someone walks on the duct, or something is accidentally dropped thereon.

Overlying the anchoring layer 22 is an insulating layer 24 of any suitable insulating material. The insulating layer 24 may comprise large sheets, not shown, of insulating material, or, as shown, it may comprise smaller blocks or panels of insulating material.

It will be noted that the spacers 20 locate the insulating layer 24 outwardly from the side wall 12, thereby providing dead air spaces 26 between the side wall 12 and the insulating layer. Such dead air spaces materially reduce heat transfer between the interior and the exterior of the duct 10, which is an important feature.

The insulating layer 24 is shown as having applied thereover a retaining layer 28 comprising tie wires ex tending inwardly between the blocks of the insulating layer at intervals and secured to the anchoring layer 22. It will be understood that such a retaining layer over the insulating layer at the top of the duct 10 is not necessary since gravity will hold the top insulating layer in place.

Overlying the retaining layer 28 is a sheathing layer or sheathing means 29 comprising main and intermediate supports 30 and 32 spaced apart longitudinally of the duct 10 in alternating relation. As best shown in FIG. 3, each main support 30 is a shallow channel which faces inwardly toward the side wall 12 and which is provided at its edges with flanges seated against the retaining layer 28. The structure of the intermediate supports 32 is similar to that of the main supports 39.

The main and intermediate supports 30 and 32 are secured to the anchoring layer 22 by tying devices 34 which extend through the insulating layer 24 and the re raining layer 28, whereby the main and intermediate supports 39 and 32 secure the insulating layer and the retaining layer to the anchoring layer. The tying devices 34 are elongated and flexible so that they connect the sheathing means 29 to the anchoring layer 22 in a manner which permits floating of the sheathing means. The tying devices 34 shown consist of tie wires secured to the anchoring layer 22 at their inner ends and to the main and intermediate supports 30 and 32 at their outer ends. Preferably, the tire wires 34 are wire loops looped around strands of the wire mesh forming the anchoring layer 22 at their inner ends and extending through holes in the flanged edges of the supports 30 "and 32 at their outer ends, the tie wires preferably being disposed between the blocks or panels forming the insulating layer 24, although they may in some instances extend through the components of the insulating layer.

Considering the sheathing means 29 in more detail, it includes sheathing panels 36 each of which overlies one of the intermediate supports 32 along one of its centerlines and each of which overlies two of the main supports 30 at its respective ends. Each sheathing panel 3t; is rigidly secured to the intermediate support 32 which it overlies along its intermediate-support-overlying centerline, as by sheet metal screws 38.

As best shown in FIG. 3, the adjacent ends of adjacent sheathing panels 36 which overlie each main support 30 are spaced apart and are covered by a batten 4G suitably secured to the underlying main support, as by sheet metal screws 42. With this construction, the adjacent sheathing panels 36 whose adjacent edges overlie the main supports 30 may float relative to each other to accommodate longitudinal expansion or contraction of the duct 10. It will be understood that the battens 40 merely cover the underlying ends of the sheathing panels 36 and the gap therebetween, and do not restrict relative floating movement of the sheathing panels.

It will be noted that the battens 40 are inwardly facing, shallow channels similar to the main and intermediate supports 30 and 32, and that the ends of the sheathing panels 36 which underlie the battens are turned outwardly. Consequently, disengagement of the battens 4t and the underlying sheathing-panel edges is prevented,"

However, the spacings between the outturned sheathingpanel edges and the sides of the channel-shaped battens 40 are such as to provide the desired relative floating movement.

floating relative to each other to compensate for longitudinal expansion and contraction of the duct 10, which is the direction of maximum expansion and contraction. The main and intermediate supports 34 and 32 and the battens extend around the duct 10 rectangularly in similar fashion.

It will be understood, however, that the foregoing rectangular-ring configuration for the sheathing panels, the supports 30 and 32 and the battens 40 is not necessary, being primarily applicable to the rectangular duct 10 shown, but not even being necessary in connection there with. In fact, in many instances, it is desirable to provide for relative floating movement between the edges of adjacent sheathing panels, as well as between the battened-down ends thereof. For example, this may be achieved by omitting the sheet metal screws 46 interconnecting adjacent edges of adjacent sheathing panels 36 and 44.

Although an exemplary embodiment of the invention has been disclosed herein for purposes of illustration, it will be understood that various changes, modifications and substitutions may be incorporated in such embodiment without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claims which follow.

I claim:

1. In combination: an underlying structure to be insulated; an anchoring layer overlying and secured to said underlying structure; an insulating layer overlying said anchoring layer; a plurality of spaced, elongated tie means connected at their inner ends to said anchoring layer and extending outwardly through said insulating layer; main and intermediate supports overlying said insulating layer and spaced apart in alternating relation, said tie means being arranged in rows and said supports being secured to the outer ends of said tie means of said rows, respectively; sheathing panels each spanning the In the particular construction illustrated, each sheathspace between two of said main supports and overlying the intermediate support therebetween, the ends of said sheathing panels being spaced apart at said main supports; means securing each sheathing panel only to the intermediate support which it overlies; and battens secured to said main supports and overlying the spaces between and the ends of said sheathing panels.

2. In combination: an underlying structure to be insulated; an anchoring layer overlying and spaced outwardly from and secured to said underlying'structure, there being an air space between said underlying structure and said anchoring layer; an insulating layer overlying said anchoring layer; a plurality of spaced tie Wires arranged in rows and connected at their inner ends to said anchoring layer and extending outwardly through said insulating layer; main and intermediate supports overlying said insulating layer and spaced apart in alternating relation, said supports being secured to the outer ends of said tie wires of said rows, respectively;

' sheathing panels each spanning the space between two edge of each sheathing panel 36' is secured to a top sheathing panel 48, as by sheet metal screws 50, the top sheathing panels overlying the top wall 16 of the duct 10. The other edge of each sheathing panel 44 is secured, as by sheet metal screws 52, to a bottom sheathing panel, not shown, overlying the bottom wall 18. This panel 44, and the-hidden sheathing panels overlying the l bottom wall 18 and the side wall 14 of the duct 10. Such rectangular sheathing rings are, of course, longitudinally of said main supports and overlying the intermediate support therebetween, the ends of said sheathing panels being spaced apart at said main supports; means securing each sheathing panel only to the intermediate support which it overlies; "and battens secured to said main supports and overlying the spaces between and the ends of said sheathing panels.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNlTED STATES PATENTS 1,558,217 Baldwin Oct. 20, 1925 2,282,293 Christensen May 5, 1942 2,460,848 Rover Feb. 8, 1949 2,661,769 Butler etal Dec. 9, 1953 2,746,578 Blomeley May 22, 1956 

